Hull boss rues 'moment of madness' that allows Portsmouth to close gap ahead of huge Fratton Park game next Saturday

As the Blues secured a hard-fought win at Fleetwood to maintain their League One momentum after an enforced break, the Tiger’s let a 1-0 lead slip late in the game at the KCOM Stadium.

The Seasiders’ Jerry Yates levelled matters with nine minutes left on the clock, cancelling out Mallik Wilks’ 51st-minute opener, to make it one win in seven third-tier outings for Hull.

However, the goal arrived just four minutes after Reece Burke was sent off for bringing down Ben Woodburn as he raced through on goal.

The defender was attempting to rectify a slip following a pass from team-mate Richie Smallwood which let in the on-loan Liverpool forward, only to foul him in the process.

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Referee Samuel Barrott had no option but to send the centre-back off.

And at the final whistle, Grant was left lamenting the error which could prove costly at the end of the season.

The Hull boss told the Yorkshire Post: ‘I thought we were in control of everything that we were doing and then there's a moment of madness, which is unlike us, really.

‘It was a sloppy bit of play in the middle of the pitch. Richie has played it behind Reece, he's tried to recover and then it's a red card.

‘It was both of them, they just got caught up in a tangle, didn't they. There was no-one near them. It was just a casual pass from Richie and it's put Reece on the back foot.

‘To be fair to him, he's actually recovered quite well and got back. We thought he was going to nick the ball but it wasn't to be, but even though Reece got sent off we shouldn't have conceded the way we did from a corner.

‘It's frustrating for us because they've had one shot on target, it's come from our own doing and from someone leaving their man in the box. It ends up in the back of our net and we have to learn from it.’

The draw, along with Pompey’s 1-0 win at Fleetwood, sees second-placed Hull (39) hold a one-point advantage over the Blues (38).

Kenny Jackett’s side have a game in hand, though, and welcome the Tigers to Fratton Park on Saturday.

League leaders Lincoln had no came this weekend after their game against Shrewsbury was postponed.

They sit three points above Hull on 42 points, and four clear of the Blues, who have played one game less.

The Imps travel to PO4 on Tuesday, January 26.

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